There wasn't even a moment to catch their breath.
The slightest relaxation was immediately followed by another wave of danger—as if an invisible force were pushing them, forcing them to flee endlessly, never truly escaping the threat.
Like now.
Even though they had entered [Morning Reading Time], a period theoretically safe from supernatural attacks, the classroom lights had abruptly shut off, plunging the once brightly lit space into darkness.
An eerie presence spread through the air.
A malicious intent enveloped them from all directions.
The goat-headed anomaly, which had merely stood at the door before, now stepped inside.
With each footfall, lacerations appeared on Takakai's body—as if an invisible rod were striking him, splitting his flesh open.
"Ugh…"
Beside him, Miko collapsed to the ground, her clothes stained with blood.
The goat-headed anomaly hadn't even moved.
Just by entering the room, wounds had manifested on both of them.
Like misbehaving students being disciplined.
[Why can't you follow classroom rules?]
A voice seemed to whisper in their ears.
[Louder! Who are you mumbling to?!]
The words were laced with resentment, dripping with malice.
[If you can't even obey simple rules, what right do you have to live?]
[Did your parents give birth to you just so you could embarrass them here?]
[Stop crying! This isn't a place for cowards. Cry again, and your punishment will double!]
Clank— Clank—
The sound of chains rattled somewhere unseen.
Where was it coming from?
In the darkness, only a faint flicker of light pulsed weakly from the ceiling.
Then, a vision:
A person strung up by chains, while another swung a rod—once, twice, over and over.
Screams and sobs echoed as blood dripped onto the floor, swallowed by the shadows.
And in the dim glow nearby, a figure watched silently.
The rest was unclear.
But the horrifying words continued:
[We are molding the future of this nation.]
[At the end of suffering, great victory awaits—this is your privilege.]
[Everything we do is for your own good. You should be grateful.]
[And so, there will be more…]
CRASH!
Takakai shattered the floor beneath him, landing in a brightly lit restroom, his clothes soaked in blood.
Miko tumbled down after him, and he caught her.
Above them, glass shattered.
Takakai looked up—
A head, like a giraffe's elongated neck, stretched down from the sixth-floor window, scanning the area.
So that's the [Giraffe Inspector]. Then where's the [Elephant Headmaster]?
No time to think.
Takakai scooped up the weakened Miko, glancing around—men's restroom. He bolted for the exit but froze at the door.
Miko had struggled to stop him.
"Don't… go into the hallway… the cameras… those cameras…"
Unlike Takakai, whose physique could endure the goat-headed anomaly's punishment, Miko had taken fifty brutal strikes equivalent to solid iron rods. Beneath her clothes, her flesh was mangled, the fabric drenched in blood. She could barely breathe, let alone walk.
Yet even in this state, sensing something's gaze, she mustered the strength to grip Takakai's collar, forcing him to halt.
Outside the restroom, under sterile fluorescent lights, security cameras slowly rotated, ensuring every inch of the hallway was monitored.
To Takakai, they were almost invisible—had Miko not pointed them out, he wouldn't have noticed.
But to Miko, they weren't cameras at all.
They were severed human heads, split horizontally at the nose, their upper halves dangling from elephant-like trunks that slithered from holes in the ceiling.
Bloodied, vacant eyes swiveled, scanning.
If they stepped into the hallway, those things would see them.
And if they were seen…
Something terrible would happen.
Miko had no proof—just a bone-deep certainty.
"Those two things… don't seem to be following us down."
Takakai crouched near the door, laying Miko down. After confirming nothing had dropped from the ceiling, he spoke softly, then fastened the Rescue Team Badge onto her.
Seeing her discomfort, he warned her not to overuse its power. While Takakai's False Life Blessing mitigated the badge's corruption, prolonged use for others came with severe side effects. Though improved from its Shirakawa Apartments version, Miko couldn't wear it long. Once her wounds stabilized, he removed it.
"This thing… is amazing."
Miko stared at the badge in awe. It pulsed with an odd energy, far less oppressive than the anomalies. Almost… purified.
"A memento from someone noble. Thinking back, that person helped me immensely—no, they helped everyone they could. I could never be like them, but… I truly respect them."
Takakai didn't elaborate, leaving it at that.
"I see… Um, Takakai-san, when that goat-headed thing entered earlier, you saw something too, right? A dark place, someone chained up and beaten, voices in the shadows… and a man at a small desk with a dim lamp. There was a printed document on it—covered in writing. Did you see that part?"
Miko's question made Takakai pause.
"I did… Wait, you saw it clearer than me. I barely made out the observer. Do you remember what was written?"
Miko shook her head at first—then froze.
"I… shouldn't be able to recall that much, but… I do. Every word."
It wasn't mere text.
It was something more—something cursed, seared into her memory.
"If I say it out loud… it might harm you. Those words… they feel dangerous."
Takakai didn't hesitate.
"No matter how dangerous, I need to know. The more I understand, the better our chances of surviving—of escaping."
Reluctantly, Miko recited the document's contents.
[Fujika Middle School Student Ranking Manual]
"To better educate, manage, and guide students, Fujika Middle School categorizes its pupils into five ranks. Remember your rank and strive for improvement. Only by becoming the best can you repay the school's nurturing."
[1. Outstanding Students]
Criteria: Top 10 in grade-wide exams or 3+ individual commendations.
Privileges:
Maintain impeccable uniform hygiene. Always wear the Outstanding Student badge.
Greet teachers politely. Bow with eyes at their chest level.
During [Morning Reading], you may leave your seat to monitor others.
Access the premium cafeteria section.
Issue requests to lower-ranked students (must comply).
Do not harm other Outstanding/Good/Average students.
Requests to Problem Students must not endanger them.
Unlimited authority over Bad Students. Special requests may be arranged via [Basement Faculty].
[2. Good Students]
Criteria: Top 30% in grades or 1+ commendation.
Rules:
Uniform must remain spotless.
Bow to teachers—eyes on their waist. (Eye contact = 1 Warning.)
[Morning Reading]: Stay seated. Lack of focus = 1 Warning.
Eat only in standard/low-tier cafeteria sections.
May command Problem/Bad Students, but not against Outstanding Students' orders.
Unlimited authority over Bad Students.
3 Warnings = Demotion to Average Student.
[3. Average Students]
Default rank for newcomers.
Rules:
Uniform inspections by any higher-ranked student/teacher. (Stains = 1 Warning.)
Bow to teachers—eyes on their feet.
Inattentiveness in class = 1 Warning.
Eat only in low-tier cafeteria.
Comply with higher-ranked students' demands (unless life-threatening).
May command Problem/Bad Students, but no contradictions to superiors.
May observe but not participate in Bad Student 'special requests.'
3 Warnings = Demotion to Problem Student.
Cannot graduate until promoted to Good Student.
[4. Problem Students]
Criteria: Bottom 20-30% in grades or multiple warnings.
Rules:
Obey all higher-ranked students (non-lethal orders only).
Kneel before teachers—eyes on their shoes.
Eat only in low-tier cafeteria.
Act subservient to superiors.
Endure non-lethal 'special requests' (skinning, eye removal, etc.).
3 Warnings = Permanent demotion to Bad Student.
Cannot graduate. Monthly home visits only.
[5. Bad Students]
Criteria: Bottom 10% or excessive rule-breaking.
Punishments:
Crawl on all fours. (Standing = death.)
Kowtow to teachers until permitted to stop.
Eat only in garbage disposal section.
Obey all superiors unconditionally.
Gratefully endure all torture (dismemberment, decapitation, etc.).
Never graduate. Never leave the school.
Families of Bad Students are executed.
"All students must memorize this ranking system. Alongside the Student Conduct Manual, these rules define your three years at Fujika Middle School."
The document was long, convoluted, and horrifying.
Takakai struggled to believe this had ever been enforced in a normal school.
Was Japan always this twisted? Or did the supernatural warp this place from the start?
Worse—he and Miko were likely classified as [Average Students].
But this rulebook, critical to surviving the dungeon, had only been revealed through Miko's supernatural vision. Most players would never find it, breaking rules unknowingly.
And according to it…
First [Morning Reading]: Left seat, fought teacher (2 Warnings).
Second [Morning Reading]: Lights off, stared at teacher (2 Warnings).
Earlier: Made eye contact with the duck-headed anomaly (1 Warning).
Total: 5 Warnings.
One more violation… and he'd be demoted to [Bad Student].